A group of irate residents who live in Bedelia and Reahola hostels off Stateway took to blocking this main road into Welkom as part of a peaceful protest on Saturday.
The protest stems from poor service delivery satisfaction which came to a head when electricity to these areas did not resume after two hours of loadshedding (06:00 to 08:00) on Saturday. Power was only restored more than ten hours later.
Residents were told by councillors, authorities, and municipal employees, that their problems would only be addressed on Monday. This stems from the fact that the Mayor of Matjhabeng, Thanduxolo Khalipha had said after a meeting on Friday that no municipal employees would in future be paid for overtime.
Matters took a turn for the worse when police fired rubber bullets and stun grenades at the protestors.
A group of a about fifty people, including elderly residents and children, where standing next to the road when the police opened fire.
One resident said on facebook that the protest was a community standing together, all colors not only one race.
“This is how it should be everytime. Everyone there got along and supported each other no matter what the race. This is not about race but a community that’s gatvol of no service deliver,” he wrote.
Residents in lower Bedelia, which includes Reahola, had to endure an absolute black out for more than 10 hours on Saturday.
Their protest led to the mayor attending to their grievances, and power was restored after 18:00.
“Residents were demanding electricity and the mayor to intervene then the road was barricaded with trees, big stones, burning tyres, empty beer bottles, rubbish bags and vehicles. Stun grenades and tear gas had to be used to disperse the protesters but they were defiant and started to throw stones and empty beer bottles to the police members,” says Capt. Stephen Thakeng. media liaison officer for the Lejweleputswa SAPS.
Thakeng says the police tried to negotiate with the residents. “They were warned several times to stop their actions of blocking the street and to disperse, but the residents got more violent,” says Thakeng.
Eight people aged between 27 and 52, were arrested for Public Violence.
“Residents are advised not to close the roads or streets during protests as this cannot be allowed and it’s a crime,” says Thakeng.
